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The trial of former DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis opened Monday with prosecutors asking potential jurors what they think of snitches and secret recordings, foreshadowing key elements of their case.
Ellis, twice elected to lead the county of more than 700,000 residents, will fight criminal accusations that he shook down businesses for campaign contributions. He has been suspended from office for more than a year since he was indicted on charges including bribery, extortion and theft. He has pleaded not guilty.
The trial is expected to feature recordings of Ellis talking about county contractors whom he had asked for campaign donations. The indictment alleges Ellis pressured vendors for contributions and threatened to cut them off from getting government jobs unless they gave.
Three prosecutors and Ellis’ five-lawyer defense team questioned the first of 200 people in the jury pool for the trial, which could last more than a month. Of the initial group of 20 possible jurors, all but four black women, one white man and one black man were disqualified Monday afternoon, usually because they could show that prolonged jury duty would present a significant medical or professional hardship.
Most residents serving jury duty said they didn’t have a problem with law enforcement officials using hidden audio recorders and confidential informants.
Ellis’ discussions were recorded by DeKalb’s former purchasing director, Kelvin Walton, who agreed to wear a wire for prosecutors as their investigation narrowed in on Ellis. Walton was put on paid leave in April by Interim CEO Lee May because of allegations of his involvement in activities that led to Ellis’ indictment, and Walton hasn’t been criminally charged.
“A snitch is someone who’s been paid to give you an answer,” said a man identified as Juror No. 8. “Snitches get paid. Snitches get benefits.”
DeKalb District Attorney Robert James also asked members of the jury pool whether they believe it’s inappropriate for public officials to benefit personally from individuals the county does business with. Twenty-four of 40 potential jurors in the courtroom raised their hands.
“If you are in a position of power and you use your position of power to get personal gain, then you’re misusing your position,” said a woman identified as Juror No. 7.
Ellis' attorneys will likely argue during trial that while he strongly pursued campaign money, he didn't do anything illegal. Accepting contributions from county vendors is allowed, but explicitly tying them to government contracts is not.
Ellis raised more than $1.5 million for his re-election in 2012. Almost $600,000 that he raised from 2007 to 2012 came from firms that either worked or wanted to work for the county, according to an analysis by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Jury selection was expected to continue for several days, and then testimony could take a few weeks.
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